Pahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas ANG Pinapatnubayan ng Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo English Edition Issue XLIX No. 11 June 7, 2018 www.philippinerevolution.info

NPA ambushes PNP in Mt. Province

TEN POLICE OFFICERS were wounded while one was killed in an ambush successfully launched by the New People's Army-Mt. Province (Leonardo Pacsi Com- mand or LPC) against PNP oper- ating troops in Mt. Masini in Barangay Aguid, Sagada last June 5. Among the wounded are PSupt. Joseph Bangcawayan and Insp. Mariano Liban Jr.. According to Ka Magno Ugyaw, spokesperson of the LPC, the PNP has been operating in the area since February to arrest small-scale miners who purport- EDITORIAL edly operate without permits. Ironically, the destructive opera- Struggle amid tions of foreign large mining cor- porations remain unhampered. Under the pretext of a bogus total crisis and fascism log ban, police officers prohibit indigenous peoples in the area he social crisis under the US-Duterte regime is deteriorating from cutting timber for household rapidly. Millions are ruined by worsening poverty and hunger use. These two pseudo-environ- in the face of rising prices, additional tax burdens and a sharp mentally friendly campaigns have Tdecline in wages and income. Duterte's promised "change" is a sham. been extensively used to violate It is now clear that only by organizing and struggling can the people the rights of the people. carry forward their cause. Ka Magno added that the Duterte blindly perpetuated is not even half of the income prohibition imposed by the PNP on the previous oppressive neoliberal needed by a typical family to live the Igorots to use the resources socio-economic policy. The worst decently. Millions are scrambling in their own ancestral lands is a among these is the TRAIN law daily to make ends meet amid ris- blatant violation of their right. which imposed a number of bur- Meanwhile, in Northeastern ing costs of food, rent, water, Mindanao Region, NPA units con- densome taxes. Since its imple- electricity, fare, education, medi- ducted not less than seven mili- mentation in January, prices have cal care and others. Millions are tary actions last May 25-31. The shot up, especially of basic needs. denied sufficient wages and bene- AFP suffered not less than eight Making things worse, prices of fits, as well as their right to job casualties from these successful diesel and other petroleum prod- security. Almost nine million Fil- attacks. ucts have risen by around 40%. ipinos are unemployed or under- Two harassments and a snip- Wages of workers and ordinary employed, in addition to 27 million ing operation were conducted by employees are extremely inade- who are no longer counted in the the NPA-Surigao del Sur. On May quate to cope with skyrocketing labor force. Many are made to 25, the NPA was able to flank and prices. The meager minimum wage work in precarious conditions. ...continued on page 3 They are additionally oppressed by expand rubber and oil palm pro- rights to the land they till. They contractual forms of employment duction. launch collective occupation and which Duterte promised but failed The Filipino people are being cultivation of land. They are am- to end. compelled by the intense socio- plifying their call for an end to the Across the country, landgrab- economic crisis to struggle to de- CARP fake land reform program. bing by big landlords and capital- fend and advance their welfare and The struggles of teachers, ists in real estate and agribusiness interests. Struggles are breaking government employees, students to pave the way for commercial out. In the past few weeks, several and other democratic sectors for crops, plantations, infrastructure strikes and protests have erupted higher salaries, free education, and energy projects, timber and successively to demand regular- strengthening public services and mines is rampant. Duterte has ization of contractual workers and others are also advancing. turned a deaf ear to the grievances an increase in the minimum wage. Since Duterte has assumed of peasants for genuine land re- In the rural areas, peas- power, no measure or policy has form; and is more interested in ant struggles continue to ad- been carried out to redirect the agribusiness deals with foreigners, vance the demand for genuine local economy and draw it out especially land reform and assert their from crisis. In the possible re- in his sumption of peace negotiations push to with Duterte, the agenda includes genuine land reform and national industrialization—key issues which the NDFP asserts as the most important measures to raise the toiling masses from their im- poverished conditions and achieve lasting peace. Over the past two years, Duterte has refused to listen to the pleas of the poor. Tyranny and terrorism have been the response ANG Contents of the fascist regime in its aim of suppressing resistance and, thus, Editorial: Struggle amid crisis and fascism 1 impose his kind of peace—that desired by the exploiters and op- Vol. XLIX No. 11 | June 7, 2018 NPA ambushes PNP in Mt. Province 1 pressors. Duterte uses the mili- Ang Bayan is published Duterte's BBL fans the flames 3 tary and police to suppress. Cases in Pilipino, Bisaya, Iloko, of killings, arrests, detention and Congress mangles the BBL 4 Hiligaynon, Waray and English. filing of trumped up charges are Ang Bayan welcomes Martial law year one met with protests 5 rampant. contributions in the form But the rising up of the Filipino of articles and news items. Repressive national ID system 5 people is inexorable. They shatter Readers are encouraged Bureaucratic-capitalist corruption 6 the terror that Duterte imposes to send feedback and and strive to advance along the recommendations Parade against tyranny 7 for improving our newspaper. course of resistance. They could NutriAsia workers go on strike 8 not remain silent and bear en-

instagram.com/sine.proletaryo National minorities evacuate 9 slavement and oppression. They draw strength from their unity and AFP and PNP massacre 9 Moros 10 @prwc_info steadily advance in the path of Defend Lumad schools 11 struggle. The sparks of resistance fb.com/groups/cppinformationbureau In honor of Ka Pepe Luneta 11 are bound to ignite a conflagra- [email protected] tion. Soon, the march of the indig- Farmers demand CARP's burial 12 nant masses will thunder across Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee the country and shake the ram- of the Communist Party of the parts of Duterte's rule.

2 June 7 , 2 01 8 ANG BAYAN "NPA ambush...," from page 1 fire at the 36th IB headquarters in Roque, Magsaysay, in the same town. in Sitio Lemteneneg, Barangay Ke- Upper Ambago, Barangay Dayuan, On May 30 in Agusan del Norte, matu, T'boli on May 8. Ten AFP Tago. On May 26, another NPA unit the NPA ambushed Edgar Panisan, an troopers died while 11 were harassed the 75th IB troopers in active CAFGU trooper in Mahaba, wounded. Km. 9, Diatagon, Lianga. On May 31, Cabadbaran. Panisan used his posi- In Quezon, the NPA sniped op- the NPA sniped the "C" company tion in the village as councilor to con- erating troops of the 80th IB in Sitio 36th IB headquarters in Barangay duct surveillance and coerce civilians Longo, Umiray, General Nakar on Cabangahan, Cantilan. Sgt. Alden to surrender as NPA members. May 24 at around 6 a.m. An Awadi was killed in action. In North , the NPA was AFP official In Surigao del Norte, the NPA able to seize the initiative from was killed ambushed 36th IB troopers on May attacking 39th IB in action. 26 in Little Baguio, Bacuag who were troopers on May On May returning from their military opera- 8 at around 27, the tion. One was killed while five were 10 a.m. in NPA ha- wounded among the soldiers. Sitio Kapatagan, Barangay Lu- rassed a pla- In Agusan del Sur, the NPA ha- ayon, Makilala. Not less than nine toon of the 80th rassed a CAFGU detachment in were killed among the soldiers dur- IB in Sitio Inami- Barangay New Tubigon, Sibagat on ing the firefight. tan in the same May 29. On the following day, the In , the NPA barangay. Several NPA sniped elements of the 8th Spe- blew up a command-detonated ex- soldiers were wounded cial Forces Coy occupying Sitio San plosive against troops of the 27th IB in the offensive.

Duterte's BBL fans the flames of the Moro people's struggles*

DUTERTE’S BANGSAMORO Basic Law (BBL) is set to further reinforce their the broad masses of peasants, national oppression. It subsumes any so-called "Moro authority" to be exer- workers and semiproletariat, as cised in the BBL under the 1987 Philippine constitution and the powers of the well as petty-bourgeois intellectu- central government. als, to continue waging revolution- Most critically, it reserves the oil palm plantations, and make the ary resistance. central government's exclusive broad masses of the Moro people Various armed Moro revolu- right to operate an armed forces suffer widespread displacement tionary groups are bound to inten- within the Bangsamoro area, and from their lands. sify their armed struggle as puts local police operations under Duterte's BBL is an insidious Duterte's BBL makes it crystal clear the Philippine National Police. measure which pretends to serve that they have no other recourse. Duterte's BBL aims to disempower the Moro people but in fact aims to The Communist Party of the Philip- the Moro people by disarming and oppress them further. The broad pines (CPP) and all revolutionary demobilizing their armies, thus dis- spectrum of Moro groups are dis- forces reiterate full support to the abling them from defending their enchanted, to say the least. To Moro people's continuing struggle rights and exercising political au- many, Duterte's BBL further insults for their right to self-determina- thority. and assaults the Moro people who tion. Furthermore, Duterte's BBL just recently suffered gravely from The CPP enjoins the broad denies the Moro people the exclu- the war of destruction against masses of the Moro people to rise sive right to determine the use of Marawi City perpetrated by up with the Filipino people against their natural resources. The Moro Duterte, the AFP and the US mili- the Duterte government which has people will forever suffer the loss tary. made them suffer through wars and of the Liguasan Marsh and the Duterte and the whole anti- attacks against their human rights. Lanao Lake and its rich resources Moro chauvinists in the reactionary The Filipino people and the Moro long coveted by foreign big capi- state are making the same mistake people are strongly connected by talists. Duterte's BBL is set to of deceiving the Moro people. The their struggles for national libera- transform Bangsamoro land into a enactment of Duterte's BBL in its tion and social justice against com- haven for plunderous mining com- present mangled form will surely mon enemies. Their history of sym- panies, and destructive rubber and rouse the Moro people, especially biotic resistance continues.

*From the statement of the CPP, June 5, 2018

ANG BAYAN June 7 , 2 01 8 3 Congress mangles the BBL

fter a long wait, the reactionary Congress and Senate simultaneously Apassed their respective versions of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) last May 31. Just as the Moro people feared, both versions failed to recog- nize their right to self-determination.

The two versions are slated to the crucial phrase “right to self- be merged next month before determination”—the essense of signed into law by Duterte in his the Moro struggle—from the pre- July 31 state of the nation address. amble of the law. It also removed use of a As stipulated, the bill will then be the principle of “subsidiarity” state, and subjected to a referendum by the wherein the central authority will the power to end of the year. only perform tasks which can not grant rights, The BBL was passed after be performed at the local level and privileges, Duterte certified it as an “urgent” the “parity of esteem. and conces- after almost two years of delay. In A study by Bayan Muna shows sions on explo- the Lower House, 227 voted for, that 12 of 58 exclusive rights re- ration, develop- and 12 (including the Makabayan served for Bangsamoro govern- ment and Bloc) voted against it, while two ment proposed by the BTC in its utilization of abstained. In the Senate, 21 sena- original draft have been removed fossil fuels and tors readily approved of it. by Congress. Among those removed uranium which may be extracted In separate statements, Suara are the privilege to manage and from the Liguasan Marsh. Bangsamoro and Bayan Muna ve- distribute land, determine and re- Furthermore, it does not im- hemently criticized both BBL ver- classify agricultural land, regulate pose a 25-year limit nor a 60-40 sions as treachery to the century- power generation, transmission foreign equity limit for foreign in- plus-long struggle of the and distribution as well (the vestors, and has, instead, merely Bangsamoro for justice and the largest dams that are among the required "environmental protec- right to self-determination. major power sources in Mindanao tion and ecological balance" as “We have nothing to cele- are in the Bangsamoro territory), considerations. Businesses and brate,” remarked members of the as well as the operation of public other enterprises within the Bangsamoro Transition Commis- utilities such as transportation, to Bangsamoro free ports will enjoy sion (BTC) which drafted the origi- practice their own justice system, fiscal incentives and other benefits nal BBL. Almost in tears, they and to protect the rights of indige- similar to those granted by the watched how both houses mangled nous peoples. Central Government in special their bill. The BTC is composed of The exclusive rights reserved economic zones. 11 MILF-appointed and 10 for the Central Government (gov- With the Central Government's Duterte-appointed members, in- ernment based in Manila) have right to control the AFP, cases of cluding four from the MNLF. been increased to 20 from nine as human rights abuses will certainly According to Jerome Succor originally proposed by the BTC in increase. Out of the 74 battalions Aba, national president of Suara its draft. It reserves the central of the Philippine Army, 24 are Bangsamoro, the recently passed government's right to operate the presently deployed in ARMM. versions of the BBL deny Moros Armed Forces of the Philippines These forces are responsible for control over the their resources. (AFP) and the Philippine National the widespread evacuations in The BBL will appoint a new Police, and administer justice ARMM, mainly in Marawi. Bangsamoro political entity that within the Bangsamoro area. The Despite the dreadful result of will administer the wholesale of worst part is that Duterte will be BBL version, which was originally their territory and natural re- the one to appoint the 80 mem- prompted by the peace negotia- sources to foreign corporations bers of Bangsamoro Authority tions between the MILF and GRP which the regime claims will bring (BTA), including its Chief Minis- in 2014, the MILF leadership is growth and development in ter. still hoping that the this can still Bangsamoro areas. It will replace In the economic side, the Cen- be “reformed” in favor of the the present Autonomous Region in tral Government still has the power Moro people in the upcoming Muslim Mindanao. of "eminent domain" or the power meeting of the Congress bilateral The Senate version removed to seize private property for public committee.

4 June 7 , 2 01 8 ANG BAYAN Martial law year one met with protests

rogressive groups held rallies in Manila and various parts of Mindanao to In a forum held at the University condemn widespread violations of human rights as a result of one year of P of the Philippines-Diliman in the na- Mindanao martial law and demand its immediate termination. tional capital, Marawi Sultan Abdul In Davao City, members of In Tagum City, a rally was held Atar held the regime responsible for Bayan, Karapatan, Kilusang Mag- by farmers, agricultural workers the issues faced by the Moro people. bubukid ng Pilipinas, Kilusang and Lumads to expose attacks These include the destruction of 37 Mayo Uno, Pasaka Confederation against them and their community mosques and 30 madrasahs (Islamic of Lumad Organizations and Save leaders. They condemned the schools) destroyed by AFP airstrikes. Our Schools mounted a rally on militarization of their barrios and He also called for the residents' ac- May 23 to condemn the increasing the AFP for forcing them to surren- cess to their properties, a clear pro- cases of killing, arrest, detention, der as Red fighters. gram for the displaced and repara- forced evacuation among others In Marawi City, residents held tions for the looting committed by under martial law. Lumads staged an indoor prayer rally. On May 25, soldiers. a picket in front of the Eastmincom Tindeg Ranao, an organization of Bayan and Sandugo also headquarters in Panacan. They as- Marawi war victims, picketed the marched from the University of sailed the worsening abuses in Lanao del Sur Provincial Capitol. Santo Tomas to Mendiola bridge in their communities. Also in Davao, They protested the anti-people re- Manila. Jerome Succor Aba of San- the Movement for Civil Liberties habilitation of Task Force Bangon dugo said Duterte’s martial law led an interfaith prayer in Orcullo's Marawi which favors the establish- brought terrorism to Mindanao. "It Park to call for healing, justice and ment of a military camp and giving brought nothing but bombings, peace for the victims of martial away their lands to foreign busi- killings and more sufferings to the law. nesses. people."

GRP Congress approves national ID system

A CONGRESSIONAL BILATERAL conference committee approved the national they compel people to obtain a identification (ID) system or the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) cedula or barangay clearance to Act of 2018 last May 22. The bill only needs the signature of GRP Pres. Ro- prove that they are legitimate drigo Duterte to be enacted. residents. Those who fail to Since the Ramos regime, several pression. It will be primarily used present identification documents attempts have been made to estab- for mass surveillance and monitor- are immediately put under suspi- lish the national ID system. How- ing to track everyone's movement, cion as terrorists or criminals who ever, only the Duterte regime was not only those who fight and are may then be arrested and de- able to push for its approval, using critical against the reactionary tained. At the outset of martial its supermajority in Congress and regime. It will place the repository law, more than 200 civilians were Senate which it manipulates of private data in the hands of abu- detained in Davao City just be- through bribery and coercion. sive and criminal elements of the cause they could not present Under this scheme, all Filipino state which they may use in incrim- identification cards. This is re- citizens, age 18 years and above, inating an individual or group. lentless and widespread in villages are required to have their private Presently, the regime is al- occupied by the AFP. information regis- ready using an ID system (any Essentially, the national ID tered in a public government- system violates the right of the repository. In the issued ID) to people to privacy. It denies them hands of a mur- harass and the privilege to keep confidential derous, dema- coerce citi- their sensitive data that need not gogue and dicta- zens. In be exposed to the public, including tor-wannabe, Mindanao, personal health information among this system is the mili- others. bound to be tary and A P20 billion budget will be al- used as police compel people to located for the said system, in favor weapon for present their identification docu- of Duterte's corrupt bureaucrat ac- fascist sup- ments in checkpoints. In villages, complices.

ANG BAYAN June 7 , 2 01 8 5 Bureaucratic-capitalist corruption worsens under Duterte

odrigo Duterte regime's stench is reaching the high heavens with the con- campaign to fire or threaten to fire secutive exposés of corruption cases of his minions. His fake anti-corrup- R non-allies to give way to his ap- tion campaign cannot hide the extent and depth of his cronies' and close pointees, control officials outside his friends' bureaucratic plunder of the country's resources and coffers. He also sphere and force their agencies to uses this campaign to suppress officials, both corrupt and clean, who do not fall cater to his whims. in with his policies and ambitions. On March 2017, he announced When Duterte was still a candi- agencies. He was also exposed to the dismissal of 92 officials, whom he date, he promised to "wipe out" cor- have given himself excessive al- did not name. Most of them were ruption within three to six months in lowances (P7.46 million in 2017). low-ranking officials and appointed office. He vowed to "skin alive" these Duterte also insisted his "confi- by the previous regime in the Bureau officials, or throw them out of heli- dence" in Wanda Tulfo-Teo and Ce- of Customs (BoC), Bureau of Internal copters. A "whiff of corruption" is all sar Montano of the Department of Revenue (BIR), Land Transportation it takes for him to fire any official, or Tourism, just before they were Franchising and Regulatory Board so he claims. forced to resign after their shame- (LTFRB), Energy Regulatory Com- Two years on, bureacratic cor- less favoring of family members and mission (ERC), and Land Transporta- ruption under Duterte worsened. friends was exposed. Teo gave a tion Office (LTO). They were replaced His sporadic firing of officials is P60-million contract to her own by Duterte's own personnel, primarily nothing but a spectacle. He re- brothers and appointed her husband in the BIR which he uses against rival placed disgraced officials with vari- to a lofty position. Meanwhile, Mon- or competing capitalists. ous hangers-on who compete in tano has been exposed last year for In the case of the BoC, he ap- squandering the people's money. using his office to pay the salaries of pointed Nicanor Faeldon to control His supporters, friends and cronies his family, friends and even his gar- the smuggling of goods. Faeldon was take turns in taking advantage of dener. After their dismissal, they forced to resign after he was impli- their offices to fund their extrava- were not obligated to return the cated in the smuggling of illegal gant lifestyles. The civilian bureau- funds they plundered. drugs and was placed under investi- cracy is filled with his military and Duterte also had "confidence" gation. But Duterte reappointed him political allies who have no qualms in Vitaliano Aguirre, Department of as deputy administrator of the Of- in using their positions for their own Justice (DOJ) secretary, before he fice of Civil Defense even after the interests. No contract or privilege is was fired when allegations surfaced ombudsman decided to charge him. too big or small for them to profit. of him accepting bribes to drop In some cases, Duterte used ex- Rehabilitation aid or funds are not charges against confessed drug pensive foreign trips of non-allied of- exempt from their grasping hands. lords Kerwin Espinosa and Peter ficials or those who no longer serve Among Duterte's fired officials, Lim, as well as accepting Janet Lim his purpose as a pretext to fire them. almost none has been charged with Napoles, the pork barrel queen, to (In fact, Duterte himself incurred the an administrative or criminal case. the DOJ's Witness Protection Pro- highest expenses for foreign trips, He even reappointed some to new gram. No charges were brought which is thrice as big as those of the positions. Almost all of his closest against Aguirre. previous presidents.) Among those minions remain in office despite their In October 2017, Duterte fired whom he fired using this excuse are involvement in big cases of anomaly (Department of Inte- CHED Head Patricia Licuanan, and corruption. rior and Local Government) and Pe- Melissa Aranadas and four more of- ter Laviña (National Irrigation Ad- ficials of the Presidential Commission Bureaucratic benefits ministration), two of his most ardent for the Urban Poor (PCUP), Philhealth Despite left and right criticism, campaigners. Complaints against chief Ma. Celestina de la Cerna and Duterte continues to have "confi- them were made by lower-rank offi- three others. De la Cerna and Aranas dence" in Solicitor General Jose Cal- cials for using their positions to fund were eventually reappointed to posi- ida, one of his attack dogs. Calida was their respective businesses. tions with the same benefits. charged at the Office of the Ombuds- Duterte also fired officials who man for owning a company which pro- Instrument for tyranny go against his plans. He dismissed vides security guards to three public Duterte uses his anti-corruption USec. Maia Chiara Halmen Valdez

6 June 7 , 2 01 8 ANG BAYAN from the Office of the Cabinet Sec- Groups mount parade against retary after she extended rice im- portation permits signed by the tyranny, for justice previous Aquino regime. The current regime eventually signed new per- wo alternative parades were staged by progressive organizations in mits to continue rice importations. Tthe last week of May to give an alternative significance to the tradi- He used the threat of dismissal tional Flores de Mayo. against officials of the Securities In UP Diliman, Karapatan and Exchange Commission to crush launched the May Protest Rappler, a news source critical of his Against Tyranny last May 26, a regime. Despite being beyond his parade of "queens" fighting authority, he suspended Assistant Duterte's tyranny. Five Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Caran- "queens" donned gowns sym- dang who exposed papers regarding bolizing martyrdom, peace, the Duterte family's million-peso justice, truth and hope. bank deposits. He also replaced the Cristina Palabay of Karap- head of the Anti-money Laundering atan said that the activity also con- reform under TRAIN. Bayan and Council, who provided Carandang tributes to the #BabaeAko and Bayan Muna members took post at with the said papers and even #LalabanAko campaign launched on the MRT-North Avenue station to threatened to have the Ombudsman social media by Filipino women gather signatures from passen- herself impeached. fighting Duterte's blatant misogyny. gers and passers-by. Gabriela Women also condemned Duterte's stationed at the tricycle terminal Cabinet of billionaires mocking response to the #BabaeAko in Barangay Batasan, . and millionaires campaign when he kissed a Filipina In a related news, Gabriela Pres. 's cabinet worker on the lips in front of the Women's Party (GWP) assailed is made up of billionaires and mil- public in South Korea. Department of Budget and Man- lionaires. , Department Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa agement Sec. 's of Public Works and Highways sec- Timog Katagalugan (Pamantik) statement that the people should retary, topped the list with a de- meanwhile launched a two-day "become less of a crybaby" amidst clared P1.4 billion net worth in his Flores de Endo. Through the ac- skyrocketing prices of oil and statement of assets, lialibilities and tivity, workers declared their is- other goods. net worth (SALN) in 2017. The Vil- sues and anti-people policies of GWP Rep. Emmi de Jesus said lars own various companies in con- the US-Duterte regime, particu- that Diokno blabbers inside his struction, real estate and other in- larly contractualization. The pa- comfort zone while the people are frastructures. rade stopped at key places and lo- gravely suffering from the 17 Next in line is of the cal offices of state agencies in the rounds of oil price increases since Department of Energy who declared a region last May 30-31. January. net worth of P1.3 billion. They are On May 31, contractual workers This comment by Diokno was followed by millionaires Carlos pelted the DOLE seal in front of its followed by a statement by the Dominguez of the Department of Fi- office in Intramuros, Manila with National Economic Development nance (P338 million), Arturo Tugade paint bombs to express their anger Authority that a P10,000 monthly of the Department of Transportation against the agency. This came after budget is sufficient for a family of (P303 million), of the DOLE Sec. Silvestre Bello III failed five to live decently. Presidential Communications Opera- to issue his promised order that will A social media protest dubbed tions Office (P115 million) and Fran- allow the entry of food for the strik- the Crybaby Selfie Challenge cisco Duque III of the Department of ing workers in Middleby. against Oil Price Hike was kicked Health (P120 million). off by KMU-Metro Manila. Neti- Meanwhile, the disgraced Campaign against TRAIN zens posted selfies while pre- Wanda Tulfo-Teo of the Department and price increases tending to be in tears in front of of Tourism declared a net worth of Bayan, Bayan Muna and household consumptions. They P48 million, belying Duterte's boast Gabriela conducted a signature also urged netizens to post their that his people will not be corrupt as campaign on May 22 to be submit- families' monthly expenses to belie they are already rich. ted to Congress to revoke the tax that P10,000/month is enough.

ANG BAYAN June 7 , 2 01 8 7 NutriAsia workers go on strike

n June 2, workers of NutriAsia went on strike after the Omanagement illegally terminated workers who formed a union. At the same time, workers mounted successive protest actions during the past two weeks to assert their right to decent work and wages. Members of the Nagkakaisang firetruck to ha- Manggagawa ng NutriAsia put up rass and threaten their picket line in front of factory striking workers. gates in Marilao, Bulacan. Urban NutriAsia is a poor and youth members of company that Kadamay and Anakbayan arrived manufactures ketchup, posed a food blockade since May and expressed their solidarity with sauces and cooking oil. 23. At the same time, the company the striking workers. In Pasig City, the PLDT man- attempted to sneak its machines The workers demand the rein- agement failed to stop the deluge out of the factory. Relatives of statement of dismissed workers, of more than a thousand workers in striking workers were barred from recognition of their union, and the its PLDT Teltec Building demanding visiting and bringing food. Workers regularization of contractuals. Only implementation of DOLE's order for who prevented Middleby guards 100 out of more than 1,500 NutriAsia their regularization. Contractual from blocking the gate in order to workers are regulars. Most of the workers from various Luzon PLDT obstruct the entry of food were workers have been with the company branches trooped to the company hosed down. for decades but remain contractuals. office to demand their inclusion in In support of the striking On top of receiving meager its payroll as regular employees. workers, workers from nearby salaries, workers are not fully com- The workers questioned the Honda Cars factory sneaked bas- pensated for overtime work ren- company’s imposition of require- kets of canned-goods and rice into dered nor do they receive benefits ments contrary to and not stipu- the blockaded factory compound despite the mandatory cuts in their lated in the DOLE order. Some through its fences. They were also salaries for necessary contributions. workers have been in the company hosed down by the firetruck. Be- The company also does not report since the 1980s but remain cause of this, the company placed workers involved in work-related contractuals. Many employees large nets on top of the fences. accidents and simply terminates have died in work-related acci- In Zambales, a picket protest them to claim "zero-accidents" in its dents but their families have yet to was staged by the Kilos na Mang- factory. receive benefits. gagawa, together with the League In response to the strike, the In Laguna, Middleby workers of Filipino Students and Kabataan company connived with the PNP to on sit-down strike continue to fight Partylist, outside the Hanjin deploy 30 police officers armed with company harassment which, in Heavy Industries and Construc- rifles, shields and truncheons, and a connivance with DOLE 4-A, im- tion in Subic. The group con-

8 June 7 , 2 01 8 ANG BAYAN demned the inhumane working ment Program,” and are also forced ship-building company in the condition of almost 40,000 Hanjin to work for more than 24 hours but world. workers. On May 12, a video of an are only compensated only with an Meanwhile, the Makabayan bloc accident in Hanjin, where two equivalent of an eight hour work- filed in Congress last May 28 the workers died and one left in a day through the "overnight/over- National Minimum Wage Bill (o coma after falling from a scaffold- day" system. House Bill No. 7787) which pushes ing, became viral. The Institute Jen Pajel, chairperson of Kilos for the implementation of a P750 for Occupation Health, Safety & Na Manggagawa, called on Hanjin national minimum wage. House Bill Development estimates that more workers to unionize, assert their 7787 also proposes the abolition of than 60 workers have died since right to decent wages, security of the Regional Wage Board which 2006 due to the unsafe working tenure, and a safe workplace. The sets regional wages based on pur- conditions in Hanjin. group also distributed leaflets and ported varying costs of living. The The group added that workers reading materials to workers and Kilusang Mayo Uno and Kilos Na are being forcibly sacked through a passengers. Manggagawa expressed their sup- scheme called “Voluntary Retrench- Hanjin is the fourth largest port for the said bill. National minorities forced to evacuate

ndigenous peoples families were forced to leave their homes amid inten- coerce civilians to surrender in ex- sified militarization of their communities in Mindanao and Luzon. Mean- I change for reward money and food. while, two women activits were killed by military agents while harassment Residents are interrogated and and intimidation in peasant communities continue unabated. photographed individually under Forced evacuation the pretext of relief goods distribu- In Misamis Oriental, 47 Hi- school in the community. One civil- tion. This was the sixth time the gaonon families from Sitio Camansi, ian was held at gunpoint and five community was forced to evacuate Barangay Banglay, Lagonglong were houses were ransacked. since 2015. forced to evacuate last May 26 be- Soldiers kept close watch as In Quezon, 420 Dumagats were cause of the intensified operations residents trekked to the Lagonglong forced to evacuate along the river- and encampment of the 58th IB in Gym where they first encamped. bank of Sumag, Barangay Umiray, their community. Since they were prohibited by local Gen. Nakar. The residents were Under the command of 1st Lieu- government from staying longer in harassed by elements of the 80th IB tenant Valleser of the 58th IB, sol- the gym, they were compelled to and 2nd ID after an encounter with diers relentlessly threatened, ha- walk another 100 kilometers to the the NPA last May 14. Twelve Du- rassed and intimidated residents center of Cagayan de Oro City. magat civilians were arrested and who they accused of giving support Soldiers under the command of were falsely charged for purport- to the NPA. They also strafed the a certain Captain Diaz continue to edly violating the gun ban. Mean- while, Rockey Torres and Dandoy Avillaneda, two Dumagats who were illegally arrested and tortured by military elements last May 14 (See Ang Bayan, May 21, 2018) are now facing trumped up murder charges. While soldiers currently occupy the Umiray barangay hall, residents endure their “talikod mundo” (shelters made of sacks and coconut leaves) along the riverbank. The residents were compelled to leave their farmlands and livelihood due to the intense militarization of their community. The soldiers have al- ready slaughtered the residents' livestock. In Zamboanga del Norte, resi-

ANG BAYAN June 7 , 2 01 8 9 dents from Barangay Saad, Siayan AFP and PNP massacre 9 Moros again left their homes last April 26 due to the AFP's relentless military UNDER THE GUISE of "war against drugs," combined forces of the 7th operation in their community. They IB and PNP North Cotabato massacred 9 moros, including seven temporarily evacuated in the cov- members of the 105th Base Command of Bangsamoro Islamic Armed ered court of Barangay Poblacion in Forces-Moro Islamic Liberation Front and 2 minor civilians. The Siayan. incident occurred at Sitio Biao, Barangay Kilada, Matalam, North Cotabato last May 26. Relatives of the victims were also arrested. Killing The massacre took place four days before Congress approved the Beverly Geronimo, 27, member Bangsamoro Basic Law. The victims were identified as Dadting M. of the Tabing Guangan Farmers As- Hassan, Muhamidin A. Hassan, Konne A. Hassan, Burrah S. Salping, sociation (TAGUAFA) and leader of Muhalidin S. Salping, Tiyo Mantik, Orom Mantis, Deng Malunok and a the Parents-Teachers Association of certain Abu. the Mindanao Interfaith Services Butch Malang, chairperson of MILF Coordinating Committee on the Foundation Inc., (MISFI), was shot Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) condemned the massacre. He said that dead by elements of the 25th IB last this is a violation of human rights and the provisions of the Operational May 26 in Barangay Salvacion, Guidelines of the Government of the Philippines and the MILF Trento, Agusan del Sur. Geronimo Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities. Based on their and her daughter Nene (not her real investigation, there was no shabu found in the area. He also added that name) were on their way home no firefight took place since the PNP and AFP already disarmed the aboard a vehicle when the suspects victims while some of them were asleep when they were shot. held them up. Beverly sustained Malang also slammed the failure of state forces to coordinate with seven gunshot wounds while Nene the MILF on operations within their territories despite series of was shot in the arm. Nene re- meetings for coordination and cooperation last May 25 and May 11 counted that her mother pushed her which was attended by the chief of the PNP North Cotabato himself. away to save her from the shooting. Government units are tasked to coordinate with the MILF and the Ad Beverly has been intimidated by Hoc Joint Action Group as protocol for their the anti-drug operations. the military since 2009 for actively In the documentation by KAWAGIB on Tuesday, residents of Purok opposing large-scale mining and Biao, Barangay Kilada belied the accusation that the victims were drug expansive operations of OZ Metals users and pushers. They said that 70 police and army authorities first and Agusan Petroleum. A couple of conducted the raid on May 25 and followed it up with another operation months before the killing, the mili- the next day, where they raided the house of Dadting Hassan. Around tary presented her and other mem- 50 families evacuated from the community fearing more attacks from bers of TAGUAFA as Red fighter the PNP and AFP. surrenderees. They have also been For Suara Bangsamoro, the Matalam massacre is no different from threatened to be killed tokhang- the growing number of cases of killings and massacre under the Duterte style (killed in the name of the "war regime. Before the incident in Matalam, state forces also killed Mindatu against drugs") if they would not Aminola, another MILF member from Barangay Olonoling, Tupi, South cease giving support to the NPA. Cotabato on May 19. Last year, AFP and PNP elements also massacred On the same day, Bayan-Central three members of MILF in Barangay Koronadal Proper, Polomok, South Luzon reported the murder of Car- Cotabato. olina Lana, a former leader of the Samahan ng mga Magbubukid na longings and food, including five land cultivation (bungkalan) in Lu- Kababaihan in Aurora. Lana was sacks of rice. pang Ramos, Dasmariñas were re- shot dead by two men in her store in The farmers are members of peatedly harassed and intimidated Barangay Dianawan, Maria Aurora, the Tribal Indigenous Oppressed on June 2-4 by goons of Rudy Her- Aurora Province. Group Association, and are actively rera, a notorious landlord agent. asserting their right to their ances- Last May 28, in an attempt to evict Harassment tral land. They also oppose the the farmers from the area, Herrera In Bukidnon, Quezon Vice Lorenzo family's plan to convert ordered Nestor Pangilinan and his Mayor Pablo Lorenzo's armed goons their lands into a pinapple planta- group BUKLOD to enter the 150- fired two shots at Manobo-Pulangi- tion. They reported the incident to hectare land that was being culti- hon farmers in Barangay Botong, the local police but the latter did vated. Quezon last May 26. The goons also not help them. On June 2, Herrera's goons ransacked the farmers' temporary In Cavite, farmers under physically assaulted Rosalinda office and stole their money, be- KASAMA-LR conducting collective Atienza, 62, and Romeo Aledia, 45, ...continued on page 12 10 June 7 , 2 01 8 ANG BAYAN Defend Lumad schools In honor of Ka Pepe Luneta

SAVE OUR SCHOOLS NETWORK he Communist Party of the Philippines honors Jose (Ka Pepe) Luneta and Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanu- as a hero of the Filipino proletariat. Ka Pepe is one of those who gon Learning Center (STTILC) re- T reestablished the CPP in 1968. He passed away last May 1 in Bielefeld, ported about five incidents of en- Germany at the age of 73 after 55 years of helping advance the Philippine campment and harassment by the revolution. AFP in Lumad schools during the Ka Pepe was born of a when brought outside for a opening of classes last June 4. middle class family in dental checkup. Since May 29, at least 20 Batangas City but He worked in the Ilo- troopers of 51st IB have occupied chose the class cos-Mountain Province- the STTILC Tibucag campus in standpoint, view- Pangasinan region Barangay Dagohoy in Talaingod. point and methods until 1984 and Another 25 soldiers conducted pa- of the revolution- contributed to trols around the campus and occu- ary proletariat. He be- its develop- pied six houses in the community. came a mass activist in ment. He was Meanwhile, 23 soldiers occu- 1963 and participated in transferred to pied the Lumad school in Sitio Marxist-Leninist study circles. He the Southern Luzon Commission KM17, but eventually left after be- joined student rallies and mass (SLC) and served as its Party ing confronted by the teachers. work in Manila and Central Luzon. secretary from 1984 to 1989. He More than 40 AFP troops en- He was among the leading co- contributed significantly to the camped in Sitio Laslasakan, founders of KM in 1964. He was in development of the Southern Barangay Palma Gil. On June 3, sol- China in 1968 to help in the Tagalog and Bicol regions and in diers entered the school campus in Philippine section of Peking Radio. the expansion work in the islands Sityo Nasilaban, Barangay Palma Gil He was a delegate in absentia to of Mindoro and Palawan under and interrupted teachers and stu- the congress of reestablishment the SLC. dents cleaning their school. of the Communist Party of the In 1990, he left the country Throughout the week, members Philippines (CPP) in December 26, to undertake political work among of the 51st IB set up checkpoints 1968 and was elected to the CPP overseas Filipinos and help in along roads going to the communi- Central Committee and Political building solidarity relations with ties and targeted Lumad teachers. Bureau. He returned to the other peoples. He later would go During the opening of classes Philippines in 1969, joined the to Germany to seek political asy- in STTILC in Sitio Nasilaban, Executive Committee of the Cen- lum in 1984. From then on, he drones were flown by military tral Committee and was ap- stayed in Germany as a refugee. troops while students and teachers pointed General Secretary in June He devoted himself to propagat- were conducting a flag ceremony. 1971. ing information about the struggle Soldiers then arrived and ordered He excelled in education, for national and social liberation the students to harvest vegetables languages and cultural work. He in the Philippines and in forging and bring the produce to their mili- translated from the Chinese orig- solidarity between the Filipino tary camp. STTILC said 241 stu- inal the song "Ang Masa" which and Germans and other national- dents and 11 teachers are affected spread like wildfire among mass ities. by the incidents. activists during the First Quarter In the course of his entire life Under Duterte's martial law, the Storm of 1970. as a proletarian revolutionary, Ka group reported that 2,200 students He was arrested in Malabon, Pepe made significant contribu- were forced to drop-out, as well as Rizal on January 1976. He and his tions to the growth in strength the killing of two students, illegal de- comrades were detained and se- and advancement of the CPP and tention of a Lumad teacher, the co- verely tortured in military intelli- the people's democratic revolu- ercion against teachers to surrender gence safehouses. He inspired his tion in the Philippines, and to the as NPA members, arrests and filing comrades by telling them that development of proletarian inter- of trumped-up charges against they are fearless because they are nationalist relations and solidarity Lumad teachers, and the arrest and selfless for the people. He es- relations with peoples of the filing of trumped-up charges against caped his prison guards in 1982 world. Lumad teachers. Around 59 Lumad schools re- Based on Ka Jose Ma. Sison's "In honor of Comrade Jose (Ka Pepe) main closed due to the unrelenting Ebora Luneta" which can be read at http://www.philippinerevolu- AFP military operations. tion.info

ANG BAYAN June 7 , 2 01 8 11 "National minorities...," from page 10 members of KASAMA-LR. On June goons. Thirteen residents of ness woman who devoted her life in 3, Hererra and Pangilinan brought Barangay Catmon, Malabon includ- advancing the rights of women. She with them 40 fake land-claimants to ing the leaders of various organiza- was also a member of Karapatan- interrupt the bungkalan. In con- tions and two minors were inside Surigao del Sur during the 1990s nivance with the PNP, they barred the office during the incident. and served as the executive direc- the supporters of KASAMA-LR from tor of Pulso Micro Media Services the farmers' camp. On June 4, gun- Arrest and detention from 1990 until 2006. Pulso is un- shots were fired at members of Juan Alexander Reyes, a union der the Social Action Center of the KASAMA-LR while they were on organizer, was arrested by state Diocese of Tandag. She was their way home from the barricades agents on June 2 in Barangay San charged with murder for purport- they set up to protect their land. Antonio, Quezon City. He was edly having been involved in a The farmers of Lupang Ramos shoved to a van and was taken to killing and an attempted killing in have long been struggling for their the Criminal Investigation and De- Lianga, Surigao del Sur. She is cur- right to land. In 1990, the Depart- tection Group (CIDG)-NCR in Camp rently being subjected to unceasing ment of Agrarian already ordered Crame where he was slapped with interrogation by agents of the the distribution of the land as per illegal possession of firearms and a CIDG-Davao City, Office of the the Comprehensive Agrarian Re- case of arson in Agusan del Sur. Presidential Adviser on the Peace form Program (CARP). After a Reyes is a leader of the Sandi- Process, Presidential Management decade, however, the Supreme gang Manggagawa sa Quezon City Staff and members of the PNP- Court revoked this order and ruled (SMQC) and Bayan-Quezon City. He Caraga. that the disputed land is not cov- actively participated in the cam- In Negros Oriental, elements of ered by CARP. Determined to assert paign against endo and in the the 62nd IB arrested last May 25 their right, the farmers decided to struggle of the workers in Pearl Is- Jesus Rafols, a farm-worker from launch their bungkalan on Septem- land Commercial Corporation, and Sitio Bungao, Barangay Trinidad, ber 2017. many other factories in the city. Guihulngan City. He was illegally In Metro Manila, a junk shop In Butuan City, Nerita de Cas- detained for three hours by the which serves as the office of the tro was arrested by elements of the military. Following the arrest, the Sandigan ng Maralitang Nagkakaisa CIDG-Davao and Caraga and the soldiers militarized the sitio and put sa Dumpsite Catmon Org. Inc. was 402nd Brigade in Emenville Subdivi- the village folk under strict surveil- strafed on May 27 by Malabon sion, Barangay Ambago last May lance. Drones were also flown in the Mayor Antolin Oreta's private 31. De Castro is a small-time busi- community from May 26 to 29.

Farmers demand CARP's burial

"THE COMPREHENSIVE AGRARIAN Reform Program (CARP) is long dead and cultivation campaigns and collective a genuine land reform program must be enacted," said Kilusang Magbubukid actions to demand their right to ng Pilipinas (KMP) in a statement, assailing House Bill 7425. In this bill, the land and livelihood. Congressional Committee on Agrarian Reform seeks to remove the 15-year- In Masbate, a picket-dialogue old age qualification of heirs of landowners as specified under CARP's reten- held last May 29 by the Kilusang tion limit. Magbubukid ng Masbate at the KMP said that this aims to of hectares of haciendas across the provincial office of the Department "zombify" CARP which expired last country are not dismantled, while of Agrarian Reform (DAR) was suc- June 2014. This month marks agribusiness contracts are entered cessful. The dialogue led to an CARP's 30th year. into wantonly by the regime, in- agreement to proceed with the col- The group criticized the Duterte cluding with the US, China, Russia, lective cultivation this month in the regime for its failure to enact a Japan, Malaysia and others. In island of Deagan in Dimasalang. The genuine land reform program more contrast, the Genuine Agrarian Re- farmers also succeeded in pressing than two years after taking power. form Bill filed by Anakpawis the DAR to evict the armed men Instead, the regime allows the full Partylist has been queued in Con- belonging to the company arrogat- control of landlords and landgrab- gress for more than a decade now. ing the land, and transfer the man- bing by foreigners of vast lands of KMP added that in resistance, agement of copra production to the the country. Hundreds of thousands farmers launch land occupations, farmers' cooperative.

12 June 7 , 2 01 8 ANG BAYAN